Gas costs could decrease 1 percent

Atmos Energy passes savings on to customers

Residents could see lower gas costs this winter if a gas cost adjustment submitted last week by Atmos Energy is approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

Atmos wants to lower residential and commercial gas commodity costs by 1 percent to reflect a decrease in the cost of natural gas it is buying for Southwest Colorado customers, according to an Atmos Energy news release.

Atmos Energy does not make any profit on the cost of natural gas it distributes to its utility customers, Gary Schlessman, president of Atmos Energys Colorado-Kansas Division, said in the release. When the costs we pay for natural gas move downward, we pass on those decreases to our customers on their bills.

The average residential bill for a winter month would decrease from $86.92 to $86.24 and the average commercial bill could decrease from $395.21 to $391.72, according to a comparison released by the utility company.

The utility earns its income from fees for delivering natural gas to customers, whose rates are regulated by the utilities commission, and for maintaining its utility distribution system.

Atmos Energy officials said there have been lower wholesale natural gas prices and projections indicate that gas costs will be lower this winter than last year, the release said.

One of the most cost-effective ways to offset higher natural-gas costs is to practice energy conservation by using your natural gas wisely, Brian Martens, Atmos Energys manager of public affairs in Colorado, said in the release.